Downsizing for Peace…

Verse of the day:

Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict. (Proverbs 17:1 NLT)

The older I get the more I hate conflict. I imagine this is true for most people. There is enough conflict in life that is inevitable; the last thing I want is to create unnecessary conflict…especially in my home.

A lot of conflict can be traced to our pursuit of the good life. We love good food. I find it interesting that even when we’re in a recession the restaurants are jam-packed. We love nice homes and for our homes to be current with the latest furniture and appliances. We love to go on vacations (yes I do!). Yet the good life comes with a cost attached; which usually means more time working and more time away from family. There’s an old saying that ‘absence makes the heart grow fonder’; this is not my experience. Time away from family and friends leads to feelings of isolation, misunderstanding and conflict.

Solomon had the finest of everything, yet with 700 wives I can guarantee you he had his share of drama. Perhaps this is why Solomon writes this proverb. If you have to sacrifice the unity of your home to pursue a larger home, newer cars, food, clothing or vacations, one day you’ll conclude that the tradeoff isn’t worth it.

Proverbs 30:8-9 says ‘give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.’